Made famous (or rather infamous!) in the Casa Bonita South Park episode, Arvada neighbors and visitors can now head to the best restaurant experience in Colorado.
Casa Bonita on Colfax is technically in the Denver suburb of Lakewood, about a 20-minute drive from Olde Town Arvada in traffic.
As of May 2024, signing up for the mailing list is the only way to enter the ticket lottery for Casa Bonita (unless you call and book a private party!). But that shouldn’t deter anyone from trying to get tickets! If you’re visiting from out-of-state, be sure to mention your wish to visit to any local pals, and see whether they can snag a ticket to reserve a space during your visit.
Casa Bonita Colorado Pricing
As of Spring 2024, weekday lunch runs on Thursday & Friday from 11:00 am-2:30 pm. Kids ages 2 and under are free with the adult purchase of an entree. Weekday costs for kids ages 3-12 are priced at $19.99 per ticket, and each adult ticket will cost you $29.99 plus tax.
If you’re visiting on a weekend or for dinner, prices increase to $24.99 per child and $39.99 per adult plus tax. Spring 2024 hours run from 4:30-10:30 pm Tues-Fri, Saturday 11:00 am – 10:30 pm, and 11:00-4:30 pm on Sunday.
“Each ticket gets you an entree of incredible Mexican food, chips & salsa, a soft drink, and of course, sopaipillas!”
We splurged on house margaritas for the grown-ups; they did not disappoint!
How does Casa Bonita in Colorado work?
After receiving your invitation to secure your tickets during your open purchase window (the process is similar to buying a concert ticket—be sure to have your credit card info handy!), follow the instructions in your e-mail and complete your purchase. We were able to land eight tickets (4 adults, 4 kids) for a Sunday 11:00am brunch, saving us a few dollars and ensuring we had plenty of time to enjoy the place.
On the day, we arrived at about 10:30 to start queueing before doors opened at 11:00. While the line had a Disneyland vibe, once the restaurant was open at 11:00, the line moved very quickly and we never felt rushed.
If you purchased Cliffside table-service dining, be sure to enter that line; you won’t need to do the same queue as the masses. We wanted the ‘pleb’ experience, but will opt for Cliffside next time!
If you’ve visited Casa Bonita in the past, you’ll remember the winding line throughout the entrance until you make it to the order window. The decor is the same, but has been beautifully refreshed, with well-chosen paint, accessories, and lighting. When you arrive at the order windows, you’ll choose your entrees for your entire party and show your ID to receive a wristband for alcohol. We loved this area, as it had plenty of space for the kids to check out the decor while we chose and placed our order. We received two copies of our order card – one which we handed to the chef at the beginning of the food line, and one to show at the end to pick up our order.
The open kitchen concept was one of the coolest elements of the new experience. You can watch your food being prepared from fresh ingredients and elements, and while you can’t make changes to your order here—the folks preparing food are behind plexiglass—it’s great to get a behind-the-scenes view.
Once we picked up our order at the end of the line, we were led to our table and placed our marg order and tucked in to the delicious fresh chips & salsa and each of our entrees.
When kids were ready for sopaipillas, we raised our flag and out they came, hot and super delicious!
The Casa Bonita Colfax Menu
Be sure to visit the official Casa Bonita site for an updated menu! Here were the choices when we went in early Spring 2024.
- Enchiladas
- Carnitas Tacos
- Chicken Mole
- Beef Suadero
- Chile Relleno
- Ceviche
- Taco Salad (add beef suadero, chicken mole, or carnitas to level this one up!)
Children’s Menu (available to kids 12 and under)
- Betty’s Rice, Bean, and Cheese Burrito
- Beef Albondigas Meatballs with Tomato Sauce
- Chicken Tenders
- Cheeseburger or Hamburger
I’m sure we broke a rule when we ordered (oops!!) but we got our kids each a carnitas taco plate. My husband ordered the taco salad with beef suadero, while I got “Christmas Style” enchiladas (that’s both red and green chile sauce). Our guests ordered kids’ cheeseburgers, Chile Relleno, and another Christmas-style Enchiladas plate. We were all 100% thrilled with the food. Let me repeat: The food at Casa Bonita is good. Really good.
Casa Bonita Activities
Part of the magic of Casa Bonita is being super-surprised by everything there is to see and do, so we won’t get it all away here! However, here are a few tips to keep in mind for your visit as you roam when your meal is finished.
- Be ready to listen to the announcements for showtimes, including the puppet show, magic show, and Cliff Divers
- Budget some extra cash for arcade games (especially if you have teenagers with you!) and the Casa Bonita gift shop
- Take advantage of the bars for water, soda, or alcohol (additional charge)
- If you visit with kids, be prepared to find every single thing on the Scavenger Hunt (pictured below)
- If you see a long line for an attraction, walk around the place a bit and return; lines move fairly quickly and seem to ebb and flow
Our most important tip: Plan for some serious decompression time after your visit to Casa Bonita. This is an onslaught of sights, sounds, smells, textures, and tastes that can occupy an entire afternoon or evening, but you will be tired. And on that note, if you are visiting with neurodivergent or sensory-sensitive kids, bring a pair of noise-canceling headphones and have a plan for a sensory break. There are plenty of nooks and crannies to check out that are quieter than the main thoroughfares, so take advantage when you can.
Have something to add to our Casa Bonita Denver guide? E-mail [email protected], and we’ll include it here!
Hi there! I'm Carly.
We love to travel, explore, and meet new people, so we're here to help you find the best Arvada has to offer!
— Carly